Seven Years After 9/11, New Report on Immigration and National Security

by Jim Kouri

Long before the 9/11 attacks, the Federation for American Immigration Reform warned that our unsecured borders and lax enforcement of our immigration laws posed a threat to our national security. We have advocated for specific reforms to minimize the risks to our nation and our citizens. On the seventh anniversary of those attacks we review those proposed remedies and how they would address three aspects of immigration-related threats to national security. These three areas of vulnerability are:

* The ability of terrorists to legally enter the country in order to carry out future attacks.

* The continuing political unwillingness to control our borders against illegal entry, thereby undermining security advances gained by greater control over legal entry.

* The ability of terrorists who have gained entry into the country to escape detection as they prepare to carry out future attacks on the American public.Seven years after the attacks of 9/11, America still faces the prospect of renewed attacks against our homeland by those who struck against us in 2001.

According to the report of the 9/11 Commission, gaping loopholes in US immigration policies and failure to adequately enforce immigration laws were exploited by the people who attacked us seven years ago.

A new report from FAIR, Immigration and National Security: A Checklist of Unfinished Reforms, follows up on in-depth analyses by FAIR that have been released each year since the attacks. The latest report finds that while some progress has been achieved in closing the vulnerabilities exploited by the 9/11 attackers, many threats still remain.

The FAIR report details many of the important tasks that have been neglected, or because of pressure from special interest groups, have been brushed aside.

According to Immigration and National Security, the screening of people seeking nonimmigrant visas remains superficial, while vital data necessary to keep track of legal visitors to the United States is not being collected. In addition, America's borders remain insecure, presenting an inviting target for terrorists and others who wish to do us harm.

"As the shock of 9/11 fades from people's memories, the danger of complacency builds," commented Dan Stein, president of FAIR.

"While there is a temptation to return to business as usual, or to respond to pressure from interest groups with economic incentives for wanting to keep loopholes in place, the anniversary of 9/11 should stand as a reminder that we cannot afford such luxuries. The guidelines laid out in National Security and Immigration provide reasonable and achievable steps for protecting the nation against attack, while maintaining America as a free and open society for our citizens and for those who are legitimate guests in our country," he said.

Jim Kouri, CPP is currently fifth vice-president of the National Association of Chiefs of Police. He's former chief at a New York City housing project in Washington Heights nicknamed "Crack City" by reporters covering the drug war in the 1980s. In addition, he served as director of public safety at a New Jersey university and director of security for a number of organizations. He's also served on the National Drug Task Force and trained police and security officers throughout the country. He writes for many police and crime magazines including Chief of Police, Police Times, The Narc Officer, Campus Law Enforcement Journal, and others. He's appeared as on-air commentator for over 100 TV and radio news and talk shows including Oprah, McLaughlin Report, CNN Headline News, MTV, Fox News, etc. His book Assume The Position is available at Amazon.Com, Booksamillion.com, and can be ordered at local bookstores. Kouri holds a bachelor of science in criminal justice and master of arts in public administration and he's a board certified protection professional.